As the action starts in the latest production of Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party, you can’t help but feel a prickling sense of anticipation. This marvel of 1970’s British social dysfunction has once again graced the stage, proving that the party never truly ends, it simply finds a new host.
Drenched in nostalgia and plenty of gin, Abigail's Party invites us into the garish living room (designed with impeccable 70’s bad taste by Bek Palmer) of Beverly and Laurence Moss, a suburban couple who could give a masterclass in passive-aggressive warfare. They are hosting a soiree, a get-together for the neighbours, and, as is often the case when people are thrown together in this way, no one really wants to be there – not even Laurence, and it’s his house. Only Beverly is truly at ease, wafting from one guest to the next, offering them ‘just a little top up’ and trying to persuade them to eat the ‘cheese and pineapple ones’ she’s thrusting into their faces.
Beverly herself is a force of nature, seemingly oblivious to the cringe-worthy destruction she leaves in her wake. She’s played by Rebecca Birch in a performance that perfectly encapsulates Beverly’s energy, arrogance, and hidden insecurities. She is equal parts charming and manipulative, and her interactions with the other characters are both hilarious and painful. But Birch also brings a real vulnerability to the role, which makes Beverly all the more human and relatable. That’s a hard thing to do.Of course, a gathering isn’t a gathering if there’s only one person there, and the rest of the cast is a wonderful mismatch of odd puzzle pieces that look as though they might fit together at first glance, but ultimately simply cannot; not without a good deal of effort, at least. We have the stressed Sue, played by Jo Castleton who is all about keeping up appearances while she worries incessantly about what Abigail might be up to at home. Tony (George Readshaw), the moody former footballer, who broods with a simmering intensity that could explode at any moment – and does. And Angela (Alice De-Warrenne), the fun and almost manic nurse who tries to make up for her husband, Tony’s, dourness but only succeeds in making it all the more noticeable.
Director Michael Cabot orchestrates the entire chaotic ensemble with precision, ensuring that each excruciatingly awkward moment lands with maximum impact, and it works; the tension in the room is so thick at times you could slice it with a cheese knife and serve it on a cocktail stick.One of the things that struck me most about Abigail's Party was how timeless it feels. Despite being written in the 1970s and clearly set in the same era, the play's themes – social anxiety, class tensions, and relationships (good and bad) – are just as relevant today as they were back then. Watching the characters navigate their way through the complexities of their social lives, it’s hard not to see similarities with today’s world. We can all relate to one (and probably more) of the characters before us. We just might not really want to.
Review by Lisamarie Lamb
Rating: ★★★★
Seat: J33 | Price of Ticket: £32
